Awards & Recognition

OUTSpoken & Visible Awards

Corporate America was diversifying, and many companies felt pressure to reevaluate their hiring and employment practices. During that transition, awards from activists, NGOs, and other companies helped identify inclusive business practices, celebrate the companies who had them, and mark those companies as leaders for others to follow. As a result, award programs helped set standards for inclusive workplaces. Within workplaces, too, awards encouraged inclusion.

In 1996, the Lambda Network established the OUTSpoken & Visible Awards program to annually recognize Kodak employees who exhibited role-model behavior for promoting an LGBTQ supportive work environment. OUTSpoken & Visible Awards were distributed at the network's annual Education Events, and recipients were invited to share speak about their contributions and journey as an ally or LGBTQ individual. Starting in 2003, the OUTSpoken & Visible Awards program was expanded for awarding organizations.

The Lambda Awards Team also nominated Kodak employees into outside awards programs.

A promotional flyer for the OUTSpoken & Visible Awards program.

The Lambda Network awards George Fisher an OUTSpoken & Visible award. From left to right: Marge Meyer, Dan Sapper, George Fisher, and Deb Krusemark.

Awards Received by the Lambda Network

1999

• "Top Ten" Employee Network Group award from Gay Financial Network.

2001

• Finalist for the "OUTIE Award for Employee Resource Group of the Year" from Out & Equal.

2002

• Finalist for the "OUTIE Award for Employee Resource Group of the Year" from Out & Equal.
• "Stonewall" award for parade float from the Rochester Gay Pride Parade.

2003

• A Lambda member was a finalist for the "Champion Award" from Out & Equal.
• Finalist for the "OUTIE Award for Employee Resource Group of the Year" from Out & Equal.
• "Stonewall" award for parade float from the Rochester Gay Pride Parade.

2004

• Laura Brooks received the "Champion Award" from Out & Equal.
• "OUTIE Award for Employee Resource Group of the Year" from Out & Equal.

2006

• Emily Jones received the "Trailblazer Award" from Out & Equal.

Awards Received by Kodak

1999

• "America's 10 Best Places for Lesbians to Work" from Girlfriends (June).
• "25 Top Companies to Work for Now" from The Advocate (October).

2000

• "Historically Supportive Workplace for LGBT Employees" award from Out & Equal.
• Received the first "OUTIE Award for Workplace Excellence" from Out & Equal.

2001

• "Corporate Leadership Award" from the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley.

2002

• Scored 100% in the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign.

2003

• Scored 100% in the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign.

2004

• Finalist for "OUTIE Award for Significant Achievement" for creating a safe and inclusive work environment for transgender employees from Out & Equal.
• "GAGV Leadership Award" for creating an inclusive environment for transgender employees.
• Scored 100% in the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign.

2005

• Finalist for "OUTIE Award for Significant Achievement" for creating a safe and inclusive work environment for transgender employees from Out & Equal.
• Rated #1 employer for LGBT employees by DiversityINC.
• Scored 100% in the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign.

2006

• "Diversity Award" from the International Foundation for Gender Education.
• "Workplace Excellence Award" from the Empire State Pride Agenda.
• Finalist for "OUTIE Award for Significant Achievement" from Out & Equal.
• Scored 100% in the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign.